Bosses urged to legalise stay of illegal workers
Published on: Thursday, February 16, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: Employers hiring illegal foreign workers in Sabah have been urged to grab the opportunity to legalise their stay under the State's six-month "Rehiring Programme" starting Wednesday.Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) President Datuk Michael Lui said they must adhere to the conditions of the programme.He said the move would bring a positive development to the economic growth of the State which was still lacking workers in certain sectors.
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"The Rehiring Programme will also enable employers to overcome worker shortage in permitted sectors such as agriculture, plantation, construction, manufacturing and service industries."With this programme, the employers would have the opportunity to obtain valid work permits for their illegal workers. We believe the Immigration Department will take stern action against illegal immigrants as well as employers who failed to register under the programme," he said here, Wednesday.Lui was commenting on the implementation of the programme by the State Immigration Department. He said the State has a huge number of IMM13 document holders who have been earning their living here for generations.
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"I believe now is the right time to consider legalising them through the Rehiring Programme."Sabah Immigration Director Musa Sulaiman was reported as saying on Tuesday that the programme would also allow the Government to determine the number of illegal immigrants in the State.
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He said among the conditions, immigrants must have a proper record of early admission into the country, those whose visit pass for temporary employment has lapsed but are still working with the same or a new employer and those who have overstayed their social visit pass and are working with an employer.It's only open to Filipino and Indonesian nationals without any criminal record, he added. Sabah, which has autonomy over immigration matters, will carry out the programme in line with the federal authorities' move to allow employers to register their illegal workers with an E-Card (enforcement card) from Feb 15 until June 30. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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